121 years ago, a group of enterprising Portuguese got together to see if it was possible to race an automobile from the coastal town of Figueira da Foz to Lisbon.
It was. Eleven cars competed, joined by three motorcycles, with ‘Edmond’, the winner of the October 1902 Paris-Vienna race, expected to emerge victorious for Darracq.
However, having performed a recce during the run-up to the event, the exhausted works ace fell asleep on a train en route to Figueira and missed the start.
The race was won by Giuseppe Bordino in the Fiat 12HP belonging to the Infante D Afonso (the king’s brother). The event was so successful that it led to the creation of the ACP (Automóvel Club de Portugal) in 1903.
120 years later, a group of 30 competitors participated in the Corrida dos Fundadores – The Founders Run – for cars and ’bikes produced until 1939. The event started in Figueira da Foz, before passing through Alcobaça, Óbidos, Torres Vedras and Mafra. On day two, the cars headed south, passing through Estoril before taking the flag in Lisbon.
This, the second year for the event (not including a trial run), was a huge success, even if the weather took a turn for the worst.
Classic & Sports Car joined the tour, on 14-15 October 2023, so here are some of our favourite classic cars on this year’s event, presented in chronological order.
